Safety device for moving-picture machines



UNITED j STATE-s Parrain lorifice.

CHARLES F. MEHL, HENRY B. LIEBLER, JABEZ NAL., AND EDWARD Lf.

CLEVELAND, omo.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING-PICTURE MACHINES.

Application filed June 18,

vprovenient in Safety-Devices for Moving'- icture Machines; and we dohereby declare the following tube a full, clear, and exact A descriptionoi' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices,and particularly to a device for governing the current supplied to theelectric light of a. moving picture machine so that the current will beshut off from the projection light in case the film splitslongitudinally or breaks transversely. I

The object of this invention is to provide means forY preventing thefilm from being set on fire by the projection light used to display thesame and is an improvement on the device shown in our pendingapplication.

Our invention therefore consists in the. features of construction andcombinations of parts, hereinafter described in the speciicaticn,pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Y

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a top plan of a device embodyingourt inventionshowing the rollers held up and out of contact with thefilm and with switch open. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. F ig. 3iswfa View corresponding to a central vertical section, s ltowing aroller (in full lines) l aniiig against the film and also showing a .ryiler (in dotted lilies) in its lower positi'on after the iilm hasbroken. Fig. 4 is a top plan corresponding to Fig. Fig. 5 is a Sectionon line 5-5, Fig. 3. v

Again referring to the drawings, A represents a portion of a movingpicture machine and B represents astrip of film. Our device comprises abox-likecasing 5 preferably formed in a single casting and having anopening 6 at the front end and an opening 'F atthe bottom. Toward therear end of the casing 5 at each side is formed a bracket arm 8 by meansof which the device may be mounted on the frame of a moving picturemachine. Within the casing at the rear thereof is mounted a supportlformed Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented 1919. Serial No. 305,204.

of insulating material.v On the upper snrface of this support arearranged two standards 10 and 11 which are held in place by bindingscrews 12 and 13.- On each standard is pivotally mounted a contactmember shown at 14 and 15. To the binding screws are secured thevterminals of an electric circuit which controls switch operating'mechanism for controlling the motor which drives the machine and theprojection light (not shown). At the front end of the casing andextending transversely thereof is a small shaft v16. At the center ofthe shaft 16 is loosely mounted a lever 17, one arm of which is longerthan the other,4 and the longer arm extends rearwardly and carries acontact member 18 which is adapted to engage the contact members I14eand 15 and close the circuit. The shorter arm ot' the lever 17 has a camsurface 17",l the object of which will appear later. The lever 1i' is insulated from the shaft 16 by suitable insulation 19. A pin 20 is mountedon tl-e lever 17 at the rear of its point of support a id extendstransversely thereof. 0n the sl ft 16 at each, side of the lever 17 isloosely mounted an arm 21. The free end of each arm 21 is forked asshownat 22, and between tire sidesof the fork is mounted a Small rollerQi on a pin 25. At the pivoted end of each arm 2l is formed an extensionor finger *2.6 which is arranged to engage the pin 2O on thelever 17when the arms swing down to their lower position. It will therefore beunderstood that when the rollerl carrying arms are inclined upwardly thefingers on the lower ends thereof will "be 'out of contact with thelever 17 and the switch blade l on said lever ll'rwill engage thecontact members, and the #electric circuit will be intact, but if eitherof the arms falls to its lower position the linger on said arm will comein contact with the pin 20 on the lever 17 thereby tip ping up the innerend ci said lever and withdrawing the contact member 18 from the contactmembers 14 and 15;

The device is mounted on the moving picture machine in proximity totheiilm with the'arms 21 inclined upwardly andthe rollers restingagainst the strip of film. When ias the arms 21 are in this position theelect lc tore described and extinguishing the projection light, andthereby I'neventing 'the broken ends ot the tllm trom ignting.

brow. as the arms 2l tall by their own gravity it is necessary toprovide means tor holding u) the arms while he film is beingI arrangedon or taken oii the machine, and this means is'arranged as follows:

On the outside ot the casing at each side near the front is pivotallymounted a link Q7. A rod 28 is supported by said links and extends undertheouter ends ot' the arms A spring 2S) is secured to one end of the rodand the other end is 'fastened to a. pin 3() on the side of'the casinc.At one end ot one ot the links Q7 is formed a handle 3l. Now, when it isdesired to hold theroller carrying arms 2l in their upper posit-ion, thehandle 31 is raised which swings up the rod 28 against the arms 21 andlocks them in their upper position. As the rod 28 swings up'it engagesthe cam vsurface 1T tormed on the forward end ot' the lever 1T, causingthe forward end to swing down. The inner end ot' the lever 1T will beraised up and will litt the switch blade i8 away from the cont-actpoints l0 and ll, thereby breaking the electric circuit- It istherefore. impossible to start the machine before throwing` down thehandle 3l which permits the rollers to tall against the tilm and at thesametime trees the lever 17 which cioses the electric circuit. ltheobject ot this arrange ment is to prevent the picture machine from beingoperated 'when the roller `carrying arms are held up and away 'from thefilm,

vfi'hat we claim iszl. The combination with a. movingx pic-- turemachine andthe motor and light circuit therefor. ot' a switch,automatically operating means tor opening the switch upon the breaking'of the tiim, and moans tor simnltanemisly locking said automaticallyoperating' means in its inoperative position and said switch in its openposition.

2. The combination with a 'moving picture machine and the motor andlight cirA cuit therefor, of a switch comprising a stm tionary memberand a pivotaliy supported member arranged to swing toward and away fromthe stationary member, automatically operating means for causing thepivotally supported switch member to swing;y away from the stationaryswitch member upon the breaking of the film, and means forsimultaneously locking the automatically operating means in itsinoperative l ladapted to engage the pin on the switch lever and lii'tsaid lever when the arm falls to its lower position.

4f. The combination with a moving picture machine and the motor andlight circuit therefor, of a casing, astationary switch member mountedat the rear of said casing, a switch lever pivoted in said casing andhavingv a. blade to engage said stationary switch member, a pinextending transversely ot' said switch lever, an arm pivotaliy mounti edat each side of said switch lever, rollers carried by said arms andadapted to rest against the ilm, said arms having fingers adapted toengage the pin on the switch lever and lift said lever when the armstall to their lower position, links secured on op- ,insite sides of saidcasing, a rod carried by said links and 'extendingI under said arms, anda spring connected to said rod and said casing, the arrangement beingsuch that when the rod is swung up it;will lock the arms away from thetlim.`

ln testimony whereof, we sign the toref Igoing specification, in the.presence ot two witnesses. i

CHARLES F. MEHL. HENRY B. LIEBLER. JABEZ NALL. EDl/VARD J. NOBBE.

lVitnesses:

V. C?. LYNCH,

J. H. Wooowoarrr

